Once Upon A Time In The Philippines (On-Going)

KABANATA IV

IT WAS in a slow motion when the lights flashed directly on my face. A natural sunlight outside greeted me when I can clearly remember that it's still 10pm in the evening.

"Señorita?!"

Three faces of an unfamiliar maiden greeted me. I was stunned to find out that I'm not in the carriage but in a fitting room!

"Huh?" My reaction as I roam my eyes around the place.

It was like magic. Where's manong kutsero? Where's the kalesa?

I blinked my eyes a million times. Naglahad ng kamay ang isang babae para umalalay sa aking tumayo pero buo ang loob ko na hindi 'yon tanggapin. Napagtanto kong hindi sila ang mga sales lady na humahabol sa akin kanina at nag-iba na rin ako ng suot na dress.

"What's this? Ba't ako nag-change outfit? Bagong skin ba 'to ni Maria Clara?"

Sa pagmamasid ko sa paligid, kumpirmadong umaga nga. It looks like the weather is on the mood. Not me though. Kayo kaya pagtripan.

"Biglang naging umaga, hindi sila ang mga sales lady pero nasa parehong shop pa rin ako...." bumuntong-hininga muna ako sa ibinulong ko sa sarili. "What a weird dream again."

My body weakened at that thought. It's not the first time that it happened to me. Lately, weird na ang mga panaginip ko. Para na tuloy akong tumitira ng droga nito.

"Señorita, paanong nariyan kayo gayong hinalughog na namin ang buong tindahan ngunit hindi namin kayo mahanap? Kahit ang inyong katiwala't maestra'y hindi na mabatid kung saan kayo nagtungo. Nasuyod na nila ang buong estribo ngunit hindi nila kayo matagpuan."

I didn't know how to answer the girl's question. Their interrogating look is so uncomfortable as if I've made something so bad.

"Paumanhin po't ganito na lamang ang aming mga katanungan, nag-aalala lamang po kami sa inyong kaligtasan."

I gave them a weird look as their way of communicating is very ancient. Like, why are they speaking like they're reading a script for a theater play? It was so well constructed.

"N-nasan ba 'ko?"

They even looked more confused.

"Narito ho kayo sa tindahan."

"Tin...dahan?"

Ginala ko ang mga mata sa paligid kasabay ng mga katanungan na hindi ko maisatinig dahil sa kakaibang pakiramdam. I know that convincing myself that this was just a dream is not enough for me to feel at ease.

I walked a few feet, then halted when I realized my dress was making it difficult for me to continue. The sales ladies noticed it so they nodded to one another.

"Tulungan na namin kayo, Señorita."

"Napakaganda nitong inyong napili, Señorita," the other lady said, referring to the dress.

Hindi na ako nakatanggi pa. I let them assist me this time. They looked harmless naman. So, the three lifted the part of my garments that were kissing the ground to avoid an accident. My heels clicking on the floor sounded like the tick of the clock that gives an intense feeling as I'm waiting to check myself on the mirror.

Hindi na makapaghintay, tinakbo na ng isang sales lady ang nakatayong malaking salamin sa di-kalayuan at may ngiting pinuwesto ito sa aking harapan.

"Naibigan ho ba ninyo?"

Kinapa-kapa ko ang mukha nang mamataan ko ang sarili sa harap ng salamin.

"Nilagay po ng Doña ang mga nais ninyong estilo ng inyong damit. Siguro'y may dadaluhan kayong napaka-espesyal na pagdiriwang."